Introducing Darwin

Icon Books (UK), Totem Books (USA). Republished 2000 (ISBN 1-84046-120-9)

by Jonathan Miller, Illustrated / designed by Borin Van Loon

"The best introduction to Darwinism you can buy." (See Reviews section below)

The first "big one" after I had won my spurs with Capitalism for Beginners in 1981. Working with Jonathan Miller, thespian, director, writer, biologist and all-round good egg, proved difficult at times, only because he was always taken up with "lighting Rigoletto" at the Royal Opera House or making a television series on the human body. Apart from the book on Buddha - someone who left little trace of his actual life - this is the only "biographical" book in this series on which I have worked. Darwin proves to be an oddly likeable but contradictory character. As a young man he was a wastrel: hobnobbing with the gentry, shooting, gambling and drinking his time away. Later, plagued by anxiety, nausea and headaches, he became a virtual recluse while developing his revolutionary theory of Evolution. He even delayed the publication of his monumental work The Origin of Species for some years in the fear of its repercussions on conservative Victorian siciety. He was proved right in the reactions when it did finally see the light of day. In many ways Darwin stands shoulder to shoulder with those other revolutionary thinkers of the era: Marx and Freud. A large format hardback of the book with colour plates was also published in the original series. This title is a bit of a classic, even though I say so myself.
The suffering...

Darwin (suffering) awaits departure of The Beagle overlooking Cat Sound, Plymouth.
The Rise Of Man

The original colour hardback cover

Review section

... this graphical book takes a look at the life of one of the most controversial people in science: Charles Darwin.
The story paints the life of a man with many facets: a shy person who, in his early life spent much of his time wandering and collecting specimens to the detriment of his studies in medicine and religion. In his later years, when ill health forced him to stay at home much of the time, the book shows him as a man who gives attention to meticulous detail. His life (and science) was changed when he accepted a post on board HMS Beagle, on which he was to collect a lot of evidence that was to persuade him that evolution was happening and that Natural Selection was the method nature used to drive evolution.
The book makes clear that the idea of evolution was not Darwin's to begin with: Lamark and others also considered evolution. What Darwin did was to present a mechanism with supporting evidence that was logical and could be scientifically tested. Of course, there were many objections raised against Darwin and the book covers these objections also (especially Paley's 'argument from design').
Nicely written in a easily readable manner, this book serves as a useful introduction to both Charles Darwin the man, Charles Darwin the scientist and Charles Darwin the man who presented an incredible theory on how life developed and evolved on earth and who is still being argued about even now. The drawings, as in many books in the same series are sometimes funny and sometimes 'off-colour' but they help to put the point across that would have taken many words and many pages to say. (Book Reviews by Soh Kam Yung)

For a rapid, amusing and accurate guide to the Darwinian revolution, there is nothing better than: Jonathan Miller & Borin Van Loon, Darwin For Beginners (Icon Books, 1992). With cartoon illustrations. (www.ehlt.flinders.edu.au "The Impact of Evolution: Darwinism and Victorian Writers")

A short, entertaining cartoon introduction to Darwin's life and work. Don't be fooled by the cartoon format. It presents a lot of accurate, stimulating information in a compact, readable form. (A Galapagos Reading List)

A very good introduction to Darwinism and evolution. Tells the story of belief before Darwin and the controversy after. One criticism though is that it omits to tell the story of how Darwin's daughter died and how ultimately it made him lose faith in Christianity. But a very good book for the beginner, nonetheless. (putt-tuffery@lineone.net from London,England)

Accurate, clever, well done. This lively, clever, humorous little book is accurate -- "scientifically correct," in the words of Dr. Tim M. Berra of Ohio State University (author of "Evolution and the Myth of Creationism," 1990, Stanford University Press). I agree with him that it would be a great gift for students to give to their parents to help them understand evolution. The illustrations, many of which are worth a thousand words, are at once engaging, informative, and great fun. Solid history and science in superlative format. (Craig H. Bowen from Salt Lake City, UT USA)

The best introduction to Darwinism you can buy. An illustrated narrative tells, all too briefly, the story of Darwin the man and his revolutionary discovery of how the living world came to be. Thanks to its amusing, but informative, cartoon style exegesis, this little gem is a uniquely powerful antidote to creationist propaganda in the classroom. The best introduction to Darwin and his ideas you're likely to see. (Peter Hynes (elek@netstra.com.au) from Melbourne, Australia)

Fatuous and grossly inaccurate. It is a great shame the authors ruined such a good idea by doing no historical research. It is quite clear that the authors are ignorant of the wealth of research produced by the Darwin industry and of course the Correspondence of Charles Darwin. I could spend a long time doing a hatchet job on the book but I prefer to spend my time going to Snowdonia and walk over the mountains where Darwin did his geology and read his geological notes where he wrote them. In all a silly book on a great scientist.. We desperately need a good simple book on Darwin, which avoids all the hype and inaccuracy. (A reader from Chirk, N.Wales) (Keep walking those mountains, my friend. - The Illustrator)

Simple and Informative Primer on Darwin and Evolution. No-nonsense discussion on the Theory of Evolution, including a look at the people, places, and events that shaped its derivation. It provides a concise summary of Charles Darwin, the man and the scientist, including the dispelling of myths concerning his alleged anti-religious bent. The book is an easy read, yet is packed with factoids and information that provides an essential basis for evolutionary thought. While the book cover gives an appearance of child literature, young and old will find it enlightening and helpful.(koller@freethinker.org from Germantown, Maryland USA)

The cartoon guide to evolution. Have fun and learn. (by Gert Korthof - http://home.planet.nl/~gkorthof/korthof54.htm)

For adult readers this presentation may take some getting used to, but this very method is one which will attract YAs. The book is not without its own prejudices and opinions. Yet, the observant student or teacher can use these as points of discussion. This unusual volume would be an excellent supplementary source to a high school biology or natural history course. Voice of Youth Advocates. (http://search.barnesandnoble.com)

To understand Darwinism simultaneously as a social phenomenon arising out of the remaking of the British social structure and as an extraordinary insight into the operation of natural forces, requires considerable knowledge and subtlety of mind. To explain all that clearly, correctly, wittily, but without condescension, to a lay public demands a high expository art. . . . [This book] puts all the emphasis in the right place, is historically correct, scientifically impeccable, and contains as a postscript the best 250-word piece on reductionist social explanation yet written. The New York Review of Books. (http://search.barnesandnoble.com)

This is not a mere comic book. It demonstrates in readily understandable terms the main tenets of Darwin's writings and includes references to many of the geologists and naturalists who preceded him and who, in some cases, aided his studies. . . . There is a serious presentation of the concepts of natural selection, the basis of modern genetics, isolating mechanisms, and the topology of DNA. There is actually sufficient text to fill several chapters of a standard textbook. This is one of those books that one opens at random to casually peruse a few pages and soon becomes engrossed. Recommended for students of all ages and to anyone else not totally devoid of a sense of humor. (http://search.barnesandnoble.com)

Essentially comic book format. Very easy to read. Covers the history of natural science and Darwin's life. Explains the theory of evolution and creationist objections. Lots of pictures and comic drawings. No real bibliography but lists some further readings.
(http://math.hws.edu/vaughn/fsem/002/project-1.html)

Jonathan Miller, Darwin for Beginners (Pantheon 1982 but much reprinted) is a fine place to get up to speed, helped by the illustrations by Borin van Loon. Called Introducing Darwin in some editions. William H. Calvin, A Brain for All Seasons. (University of Chicago Press, 2002)
(http://faculty.washington.edu/wcalvin/BrainForAllSeasons/notes.htm)

For a rapid, amusing and accurate guide to the Darwinian revolution, there is nothing better than: Jonathan Miller & Borin Van Loon, Darwin For Beginners (Icon Books, 1992). With cartoon illustrations.
from The Impact of Evolution: Darwinism and Victorian Writers
(http://ehlt.flinders.edu.au/english/Victorians/DarwinLecSummary.htm)

Need a quick overview of Charles Darwin and the development of his theory? This 175-page book is filled with amusing illustrations and just enough words to convey the basic story. From 'Some Thoughts and Readings on the History and Philosophy of Science' Richard E. Lenski
(http://myxo.css.msu.edu/lenski/history)

Fun to read. This is a great lightweight book on Darwin's life and the development of the idea of evolution. Though it would be a shame to stop an exploration of natural selection here, it's a great starting point because it provides the context in which Darwin's thoughts came to be. It also discusses objections and criticisms of natural selection, how it has been misunderstood and abused, and how Darwin himself treated problematic aspects of the theory. I don't know that the illustrations and such are very revealing or useful, but they definitely make the book easy and fun to read, though the last few pages become more text-based. Overall, it's a well executed introduction to a very influential and oft misinterpreted person. But though this book is for beginners, please don't stay one... go and read "Origin of Species."Rating: 4. (http://www.anybook4less.com/detail/1840460768.html)

This lively, clever, humorous little book IS accurate -- "scientifically correct," in the words of Dr. Tim M. Berra of Ohio State University (author of "Evolution and the Myth of Creationism," 1990, Stanford University Press). I agree with him that it would be a great gift for students to give to their parents to help them understand evolution. The illustrations, many of which are worth a thousand words, are at once engaging, informative, and great fun. Solid history and science in superlative format.

An illustrated narrative tells, all too briefly, the story of Darwin the man and his revolutionary discovery of how the living world came to be. Thanks to its amusing, but informative, cartoon style exegesis, this little gem is a uniquely powerful antidote to creationist propaganda in the classroom. The best introduction to Darwin and his ideas you're likely to see. (Both these reviews from http://www.fetchbook.info)

This paper represents the outcome of about two months of total immersion in Darwin, evolutionary theory and relevant histories of science. My self-designed crash course began at the beginning with Darwin for Beginners, an engaging and informative grown-up comic strip by Jonathan Miller and Borin van Loon ...
Linda Nochlin (http://www.19thc-artworldwide.org/spring_03/articles/noch_print.html)

This book takes us through the upheaval in biological thought that made The Origin of
Species possible. Meet Charles Darwin: a timid, anti-social, semi-invalid who was said to undermind the belief in God-the-creator.
(http://www.86thfloor.com/Advance%20Order/September2003/catalogue/7_Indies_R.htm)

This is a great lightweight book on Darwin's life and the development of the idea of evolution. Though it would be a shame to stop an exploration of natural selection here, it's a great starting point because it provides the context in which Darwin's thoughts came to be. It also discusses objections and criticisms of natural selection, how it has been misunderstood and abused, and how Darwin himself treated problematic aspects of the theory. I don't know that the illustrations and such are very revealing or useful, but they definitely make the book easy and fun to read, though the last few pages become more text-based. Overall, it's a well executed introduction to a very influential and oft misinterpreted person. But though this book is for beginners, please don't stay one... go and read "Origin of Species."
This lively, clever, humorous little book IS accurate -- "scientifically correct," in the words of Dr. Tim M. Berra of Ohio State University (author of "Evolution and the Myth of Creationism," 1990, Stanford University Press). I agree with him that it would be a great gift for students to give to their parents to help them understand evolution. The illustrations, many of which are worth a thousand words, are at once engaging, informative, and great fun. Solid history and science in superlative format.
An illustrated narrative tells, all too briefly, the story of Darwin the man and his revolutionary discovery of how the living world came to be. Thanks to its amusing, but informative, cartoon style exegesis, this little gem is a uniquely powerful antidote to creationist propaganda in the classroom. The best introduction to Darwin and his ideas you're likely to see. (http://traveltocaribbeanislands.com/0375714588.html)

The back cover notes on Pantheon Books' DARWIN FOR BEGINNERS describes the text of the book as "…clever, witty, and highly informative…," and DFB certainly is. The book is surprisingly accessible and presents Charles Darwin, the man we know as "the father of evolution," in a reader friendly way.
DFB, a republication of a 1982 book, is actually part of a series that introduces important intellectuals and thinkers like Darwin and Sigmund Freud to readers through words and pictures, what we like to call the comic book or graphic novel. Rather than do a comic book adaptation of Darwin's most famous work, THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES, writer Jonathan Miller details Darwin's life, the development of his theories, the science of his time, and the culture in which he lived and how those elements came together and shaped his revolutionary ideas.
Miller's text is highly insightful, funny, and as entertaining as it is enlightening. The last third of the book is, however, occasionally too dry, but it does revive in a conclusion that left me wanting more. Borin Van Loon uses a mixture of single panel cartoons, single page illustrations, collages, comic strips, illustrated maps, illustrated prose, and multi-panel pantomimes that work cohesively with Miller's text in ways that most traditional comic book art fails.
Darwin for Beginners is by no means perfect, but it's the perfect way to introduce crucial scientific ideas and personalities to the layman and to the student. If only copies of this were in high school classrooms. GRADE B+ (http://www.comicbookbin.com/reviews18.html) - nice to see us reviewed alongside 'proper' comic books.

National Center for Science Education
Lively, clever, and humorous, Darwin for Beginners introduces the life and work of Charles Darwin in words and pictures. Although Darwin for Beginners is in cartoon form, it is eminently suitable for the adult reader as well. In fact, as Tim M Berra, author of Evolution and the Myth of Creationism, quips, it is “the sort of book students could give to their parents to help them understand evolution.” Originally published in the centenary year of Darwin’s death, 1982.
(http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/rncse_content/vol20/9134_darwiniana_12_30_1899.asp)

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